A Lesson of Belorussian

Out of a country that has been referred to as ?the last dictatorship in Europe? comes this documentary about the charismatic organisers of the Belorussian democratic opposition and the controversial events surrounding president Aleksander Lukashenka?s reelection in 2006.

A Lesson of Belorussian

A Lesson of Belorussian

After the Soviet Union collapsed, Belorus gained independence along with many other East European countries. Shortly after, in 1991, an academy for humanities studies was founded in Minsk with the twin aims of spreading the Belorussian language and of producing a future, elite Belorussian intelligentsia.

But in 1995, Lukashenka came to power and democracy and freedom as Belorussians had just begun to know them ended. The humanities institution was banned, but its students continued to study underground.

A Lesson in Belorussian centers on these student political organizers and the events surrounding the 2006 election, after it has been charged that Lukashenka made changes to the Belorussian constitution in order to ensure his election to a third term-and an end to term limits. Despite the fear of a crackdown by police, and emboldened by a technological world which virtually ensures the whole world is watching, thousands of Belorussians enter the streets.

Illum Leipzig festival jury:
“The film is a plea, an outcry, and-at the same time- a cool headed analysis of the daily turmoil of political struggle.”